Big changes for Port Shepstone taxi rank

Plans to convert the Port Shepstone taxi rank into an integrated intermodal facility as part of the urban renewal programme are expected to get under way in the coming weeks.

This was confirmed by Ray Nkonyeni Municipality (RNM) municipal manager, Max Mbili, at a recent press briefing.

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According to Mr Mbili, a service provider had already been appointed to begin work on converting the existing bus rank into a temporary taxi rank, at a cost of R10-million.

Thereafter the current Port Shepstone taxi rank would be converted into an integrated intermodal facility which would also include a new shopping mall.

Provision would be made for informal traders and kiosks outside the rank, and employment opportunities to boost the local economy would be created.

However taxi associations had expressed their dissatisfaction at being excluded from the plans.

According to the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) regional chairman Mandla Mzelemu, RNM had failed on several occasions to meet their demands to be part of the planning process.

“We are shocked to hear that work on the temporary taxi rank will be starting without our knowledge. We were never consulted and RNM has not responded to our issues, years after the whole process started,” he said.

Mr Mzelemu added that the taxi council would not be part of the new facility if RNM continued to shrug off its concerns.

Mr Mbili said there were processes in place to engage with the taxi associations regarding the plans, but did not say whether the municipality would go ahead with the construction of the temporary taxi rank if taxi associations refused to be involved.

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